Club World Cup: Everything you need to know about the tournament in Saudi Arabia

Credits: Managing Madrid By: Aquib Nawab Football

1. Background

[{"selector":"#anim-017821ae-b7bd-446a-af06-937194e364ff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-178f6e7d-e131-431a-b276-ac5253a1c0f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f05a57ad-ce99-4e74-825c-677e127ce425","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.28663%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7c1b548c-a1a7-408e-9607-56fb4a94b1ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd5b64c9-d334-4611-bc73-65c423431870","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.07717%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-000b9149-838a-43f5-b014-7b901845aa63","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Manchester City faces Urawa Red Diamonds in the Fifa Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Urawa reached the semis by beating Leon. Al-Ittihad started on December 12, 2023, with a 3-0 win. Manchester City and Fluminense are set for the semis. Credits: R euters

2. Tournament Format

[{"selector":"#anim-5729ada2-7752-48f1-9ce1-a2c24bd82079 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a0636e2-f97b-4951-b45e-52bcfc9e0687","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad584099-6a6c-42e4-9f28-5a7abf3bcbc8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8034539e-f2a2-424c-ad38-3f63d0e3847d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcbceb79-97cd-42dd-af35-c3abbb1c95fe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.39871%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ec7df23-27f6-4710-9f8c-f98c358ee47f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The tournament has various stages. Round one saw Al-Ittihad face Auckland City. Round two featured Al-Ittihad, Al Ahly, Urawa Red Diamonds , and Leon. Semi-finals with Manchester City and Fluminense follow. Semis on Mon & Tue, final and 3rd place on Fri, Dec 22, 2023. Credits: Forbes

3. Venues

[{"selector":"#anim-7d92a2cf-ff4e-4bff-a68d-e4d3c539087b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6201c0b-6b4a-4abc-bb80-ed023ba0a7a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1c7ca09-1cdf-49da-b037-73514f2df38d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97ea4bd0-19f0-4061-8e0e-f70bf74abf7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09d1a3a9-c704-43b5-b982-35a79d785aed","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4610bbea-15de-4f01-9d75-8410bd9efe2f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The tournament takes place in two Jeddah stadiums, Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah Sports City holds 62,345 and hosts five matches, including the final. Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, with 27,000 seats, hosts Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Leon in the second round and the third-place play-off. Credits: Arcadis

4. King Abdullah Sports City

[{"selector":"#anim-18090796-2a4a-479b-b278-5927ac598f85 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bcbc0bed-232f-47bf-aee1-066a28fd61dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abfa2d8a-a8f8-498c-aa7f-850d297c5885","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d69b436e-ba2a-46da-92bd-81d95fb72a93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92eeadf4-2200-479b-8aa9-6875479b830a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.39871%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55e44173-772c-4f78-8c30-6b4c9b1a35fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] King Abdullah Sports City is important because it can fit a lot of people. It hosted big events before, like the 2018 Supercoppa Italiana final between Juventus and AC Milan, and important boxing fights like Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua's rematch. Credits: Sportsmatik

5. JPrince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium

[{"selector":"#anim-e7bccf39-0ac8-403f-bcdc-3feb85da1a10 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9407c178-349f-4c34-a593-73c59c69837e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfa8b574-ee29-4b32-9229-07eef4326d6d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.28663%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e8e4442d-12ba-4787-bed6-d914831054fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8dd8616b-91a3-470a-8152-1f6d70bd76ce","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.07717%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9afcf137-1069-4e4e-a66d-3d41dc952afa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium is smaller, with a capacity of 27,000. But it's still very important because it's hosting the Urawa Red Diamonds vs. Leon match in the second round and the third-place play-off. Credits: Infinity Tower

6. Past Winners

[{"selector":"#anim-63c989ee-52b6-4fe3-89f9-22fdbe11769c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc2a0648-7614-43d3-8977-228275072246","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a9e269e-5db1-42f7-ac83-c66197764e36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea9b8762-de39-4dbd-950c-6d6cd63a5e04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d728614-b87f-48b8-bc1b-b42557c9df21","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1e8774d-f757-46dd-bcd1-d8a639d0d205","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Over the past ten editions, European teams have dominated the Fifa Club World Cup. Since its inception in 2000, eleven clubs have lifted the trophy, with eight coming from Europe and three from Brazil. Credits: Goal

7. Brazilian Success

[{"selector":"#anim-145fdb23-24e9-47eb-a840-69f88f0a1d39 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69d6ddd7-317a-422e-a5c4-21ee7585d565","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c627de5-ebbd-44f4-8e3a-fe8c72d8eb0a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.96816%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63057bfd-256f-4860-b853-e4a12e5c6aa6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a22db6a-263e-41dd-a996-e95e783d4c8c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.07717%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a59d307c-0949-422c-8954-2cc4d7bbfbe1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brazilian clubs have also left their mark on the tournament, with clubs like Corinthians, Sao Paulo , and Internacional achieving victory. Credits: Coingape

8. European Triumph

[{"selector":"#anim-71d60644-9af1-4992-84c8-960bfa41b05b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-817f5099-0b1a-4263-978c-8aeae7d6da1d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ed0c97e-e581-4f28-a686-cfffb77a10cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.24204%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0cb15eb6-ce31-4024-9811-e04f46eba775","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9a68fc7-e7b7-44c4-b65a-814ebfae1a23","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(116.39871%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b841faab-bcac-469b-afd6-b93c4c096a36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Recent years have seen European teams shine in the competition, with Manchester United, Liverpool , Chelsea, and Real Madrid securing victories. Credits: Bloomberg

9. Real Madrid's Dominance

[{"selector":"#anim-a6e6c8a4-6a80-4356-80da-68089e17f354 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7954842b-3262-4d2b-85fd-702a7bf84ca6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebb7eb76-55f1-4507-8045-41c2c5a31a5e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b995fdd-0ad6-46d9-9718-4bb7424e9dc9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d9f4f7f0-5728-45bc-9c57-eaa334ac9afc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.82278%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08a9cf0e-c6c2-41d0-b281-2a5fd08ef79d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Real Madrid stands out as the most successful team in the Fifa Club World Cup, having won the title five times, more than any other team. Barcelona follows closely with three titles to their name. Credits: Eurosport

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[{"selector":"#anim-3763a03b-77af-44b6-840a-97be771811be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e8a7b04-7a96-4199-85b4-8c66596b4b62","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(233.63635%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b2c7bd9-b18a-4d1c-a692-013ffdcecb9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2841e71f-ce24-4efd-af6e-26771bdaa002","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -1118.08243%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Read Next